Daily Butter: Renew

Renew

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (7/10/13):

God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the
glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you,
the hope of glory.
(Colossians 1:27 HCSB)

It seems that when I really need to re-learn something, God tag-teams me from many sources. Today is no exception.

While my budget can't keep me very near the "cutting edge" of technology, I am trying to make sure I'm not TOTALLY out of touch. I am getting closer to catching up with the right decade now that I got a used "nook" e-reader (not quite up-to-date as it's a "1st edition" rather than the  newer Color or HD versions). Since my wife is an avid reader, I thought she would enjoy it, but she has given it to me. So after finally getting it securely connected with my home wi-fi, I set odb.org as the home page of the web browser.  For a while I've using my library card to get MP3 audiobooks through Tennessee R.E.A.D.S (Regional E-book and Audiobook Download System) and had added one e-book to my "wish list" because the title caught my eye: "10 Things Jesus NEVER Said (And Why You Should STOP Believing Them)." So, needing to test my "new" tech toy is a good reason to "pick up and open" the book. No, I didn't read the whole 142 page book in one sitting, but Will Davis, Jr. (the author) did surprise me with "Part One: "The Most Important Thing Jesus Ever Said." He wrote "To a group of road-weary spiritual seekers, Jesus said 'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light' (Matt, 11:28-30 [NIV]). Have you ever heard more beautiful or inviting words?" As one getting close to burnout due to my current employment situation, I must agree that nothing sounds more inviting. when a couple of pages later he points out something I had not seen before: a parallel to Exodus 33:14 as the Lord answers Moses plea by saying, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest" (NIV). If the Presence of God brought rest to Moses (even while leading His people in the wilderness) an Jesus invites us to come to him and find rest, the conclusion is simply that His presence is restful.

This "mystery" the Paul wrote about, that Christ is in me, that His presence follows me everywhere I go has got me wondering, "If  Will Davis Jr.'s conclusion is close, why am I having trouble finding rest?" I'm still working toward that answer - perhaps I have my eyes to the ground focused on pushing so hard into the "yoke" that I'm putting more of a burden on myself than is my lot if I would "fix my eyes on Jesus" or perhaps I'm straining on the "yoke" because He is trying to take our team in a different direction.

Not sure what the answer is, but my wife is thankful that the "new to me" (re-new?) tech toy is leading me back to reading and I am thankful that the reading I have chosen so far is drawing me to Him. (And I'm thankful that the translators/publishers of the HCSB have allowed the whole Bible translation to be available at no cost for my Nook.)

in His Service
Andy